Butter gun



JUIYZZ, 1952.- w. VAN GUILDE'R 2,603,867

BUTTER GUN Filed Feb. 10, 1950 v WALTER vvVAN GUILDER 52 5 C, M

ITTR/VEY Patented July 22, 1952 vWalter van Gulaer, River Forest,'lug-assigner to -General Mills, ELInc., ya corporation of Dela- Walle'Application February 10, 195o, semaine. 143,381

The present invention relates to improved devices for cutting'andremoving a predetermined measured amount of a semisolid material from alargerbody of the'same. One application of the invention is in thecutting and measurement of butter or similar cooking ingredients frombulk quantities of the same.

It is one object of the present invention to provide an improvedmeasuring device for semisolid material which facilitates thecutting andremoval of predetermined, amounts off the 'material from-bulkfquantities thereof. i u

' Another object is the provision of an improved cuttingdevic'e in whichprovision is made for introduction of air beneaththeparticular block ofmaterial to be removed.

y A further object is the provision' of a measuring device ofl thisgeneral type 'which Ais simple Yto construct and easy to manipulate. `l

Other objects and advantages will be lapparent from the followingspecificationin which a preferredvv embodiment of the invention has beendescribed. Y In the drawings which form a part of this application, Y i

Figure 1 is a perspective view,l with certain portions broken away, ofan improved butter gun incorporating features of .the invention.

' Fig. .2 is a sectional view o'n the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.` Y

Fig. 3 yis an enlarged sectional view on the line 3'3 ofFig. 2. x

. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 4--4 of Fig. 1, butwith certain portions of the device rotated to a diierent position.

'.As shown in the drawings, the butterl gun according to the presentinvention includes a substantially cylindrical open-ended shellindicated generally at I0. Across the open end of the shell, a'wire I2orA equivalent thin cutting device is attached.

Within thecylindrical shell I a plunger I4 is located,A the plungerbeing. mounted for axial movement toward and away from the end of theshell in which the cutting wire I2 is located. A shaft or handle I6extends from the plunger out through the oppositeend .of the shell andis provided With a nger ring I8 for convenience in manipulation.

The handle shaft I6 is provided with an indicating scale or indiciaadapted to show they total volume within the shell vbetween the cuttingWire I'2and the face'of plunger I4. For convenence in connection withrecipes used `in cooking,` theV scale graduations may be terms oftablespoons, ounces, or any other desired quantities.

In operation, the shell I0 is inserted in a bulk mass of .the-particularmaterial, such as butter, in the manner shown in Fig. 3. As the lowerend 22 of shell I0 is forced down into the butter or other material, theface of plunger I4 engages the uppersurface of the material and theplunger and shaft I6 accordingly move upwardly relative to the restofthe shell until the desired quantity is indicated by scale 20. Thusscale 20 will show the amount of material 24 which is included in thespace indicatedat 26 between the lower base of plunger vI4 and thecutting wire I2. l'

In this particular case the scale 20 is adapted tocooperate with an edge28 of the shell to give the necessary reading. f

Once the shell has been inserted to the desired extent, it is thenpossible to rotate the shell so that the cutting wire I2 completelyseversv the volume of material at 26 `from the remainder of the bulkquantity. 'I'he specicfvolume ofmaterial may then be lifted and-removed:To discharge the plug of material 26 from the device, it is onlynecessary to push the plunger I4 axially so as to force the materialpast the cutting wire I2 and out of the open end of the cylindricalshell.

Accordingto one feature of the present invention, the shell I0 is madevof two cooperating parts. These parts are in the form of concentricouter and inner cylindrical open-ended shells 30 and 32 respectively.At. their lower ends, the shells 30 and 32 are tapered inwardly so thatthe annular inwardly tapering portion 34 of the outer shell islocatedoutside of and below the lower edge portion 36 of the inner shell. Thisarrangement servesA the double purpose of preventing relative movementof the inner shell32 downwardly with respect.v to the outer shell 30.and also of preventing butter or other material from passing .upwardlybetween the shell portions to any substantial extent.

The Aupper end of the outer shell `30 is provided with anexternal bead38 which reinforces this end of the shell portion and also serves as aconvenient handle portion which mayv be gripped between the fingers.Projections 40 .may be struck .inwardly from the upper portion of outershell 3@ vto serve as axial stops preventing relative upward movement ofthe inner shell 32.with respect. Vto the outershell. 3l). Since theinner and outer shells 3U and 32 are cylindrical, .the shells areadaptedfor relative rotation withrespectto each other about theirv commonaxis.At the same time the portions 34 and 40 of the outer shell prevent axialmovement of the innershell in either direction. I i

At its upper end, the inner shell 32 is provided with a transverse capportion 42 which effectively closes the upper end of the shells. YIn thecenter. of this cap .portion 42 an unsymmetrical or non-circular opening44 is provided. In this particular case the opening 44 is rectangular.

Handle shaft' I 6 of plunger- I4 is formed of similar cross section sothat it will i'lt within the opening 44 and so that relative rotationbetween the handle portion i6 and the inner shell 32 will be prevented.Thus the relative rotary position of the inner shell mayfbe readilycontrolled by the linger ring or loop I8, While the position of theouter shell is controlled through the gripping portion 38. Applicationof opposed rotary forces at these two portions of the device will causerelative rotation ofthe inner and vouter shells as desired. l

In order to facilitate the removal of the volume of material 26 which iscut from the bulk mass 24 upon insertion and subsequent rotation of theshells, one of these shells is provided with 'means to provide forpassage of air to the region beneath theportion of material 26 which hasbeen severed from the bulkLmass. "Infthe presentcase, the .outer shell3'0 'has `beenprovidedl with .longi tudinal .projections -or enlarged.sections. 13.6 vand t8V .which provide air ,passages-.58.. and. 52.respectively from one end .of .the shell to the. other. The lower end oftlieiinner shellZmay beprovided with lateral flap iportionsvl and .56ydesigned to fit over the lowerendsof the ,passageways `Ellfand 5i toprevent material lfromenter.- ing and filling thepassagewayswwfhens,theydevice I8 .is inserted to the position of Fig-.3@

Y Thejcuttingwire l2 extends substantially-diametrically across the-openyend ofthe shell and may be fastened tothe outershell `30 by havingthe outer vends 'of :the wire +2 bent Yupwardly and soldered orweldedito )the outer. surface ofjshell Silas indicated at 5thV v Y Inoperation, Vthe innerand outerfs'hellsBj,v and 3-2 will .initially berotated-toV the 'positionrofig 1 so Vthat .theflaps A54.- andl. coverthe ends of the respective passages. After insertion of'rthe device tothe positionof. Fig. theouter shell may rbe rotated-.by manipulating.thefrim-Lportion 38, so that 4the cutting wire: I2 completelt7 seversvthe: material. 'Relative rotation between'theiin ner and-outershells-mayl also becaused by manipulation :of portions :38r andr t8'. sothat flaps-54 and "56' are. moved-at vleast slightly out of :linewiththe passageways 50 and'. Thusit-willfbe possible to lift the :devicel' ,andv the plug ofl severedxmaterial .26 with ythe fnecessary; airiiowingIv through. passages 5.0."and152- to .relieve-any vacuum beneath;the materialz.

.It vshould .ben'oted thatV `the :relative sizes; of.

the.V projectionssll. :and-t8 and passages land 52, as well'as flaps 54ancl.5.6ihav.beenl'substantially exaggeratedinproportion Vto v.theremainder of thedevice for` the `sake. ofcl'earnessin the' drawings; Inpractice, it is desirable that .the

sizeofthese portions be made asY smallas pos'- sibleV to Y.avoidVinterference with vthe :readyfinsertion and removaliof the devicefrom/the mass .24. Furthermore, it willbe noted thatinmany cases, wherethe material -211 has substantial structural rigidity or solidity, theprovisionof air passagesv Thus in its broadest application, the presentinvention contemplates the provision of a substantially cylindricalopen-ended shell provided with an unsymmetrical or non-circularlongitudinal projection on its outer surface, whichupon rotation of theshellwill provide an annular air passage around the device. In its morespecific aspects. the invention also contemplates the .provision ofthelongitudinal air passages to make the devicezpractical and eicient inconnection with more Viscous or plastic materials.

VAs described in the foregoing specification, a butter gun or measuringdevice has been provided which accomplishes the objects of the presentinvention. which is simple to manipulate, and. which may 4be easily andeconomically manufacturedlv Since minor variations and changesinthe'xact details of 'construction will vbe apparent'to persons skilledin t'hiselfd, itlisintendedftht this invention shall Coverall suchchangesgand modifications as .fall .within rthe sp'irit and'rlscop'e ofthe attachedclairns. 2

l. measuring device for .semsol'id material comprising inner andnuter.open-endelzi'rl'in'd'r'ical shells mountedfforlrelative rotation. onytheir common axis,` a thin. cutter v:securedllto one shell and extendingacross .the openend, one citi-1e shells having an air passage-extending.. from the Y open end to theother enduof theshell-and theother shell having acover lflap at ythe open Aend, movable toopen-andclosethe passageon rela:- tive rotation of theshells,and.a.plunger-mounted in the-inner shellfor. movementtoward; and awayfrom thev cutting member end, the ,plunger and shell having cooperatingindicating meansfshowing thev volume within. fthe; -shell between thrplunger and cutting member.

2. A measuringgdevice for semisolid material comprising` `inner androuter "op enf-ended.'cylindrie cal shells mounted: forire'lative.r'otationlon'their common axis, athin'lcu'ttei secured toY the.outer shell and extending across the open end, a plungih er mounted in`the: 'inner ffshell. for zmovement'fto- Ward and away from thecuttingmember end., and a Vhandle `on thecpl-unger'projectingromtheopposite end.` oir thesshells, lthei fh'andle fand-inner. shellhaving.-'intle'r-ilttingv portions preventingrelae. tive rotation'. :of:thexslrellami: iplun'ger', whereby relative:.1"otatio11.` toil fthe'Esllell's '.canfbe' Vobtained by opposedv rotary; forces-.applied tofthe .plunger handle land'. outer shellgnndfrthe. outer.' :shelllia-v'iv ing f at f .leastzoneiprdjection on its outer surface extendingaxially the full length of the shelcsaid' proj ection includingv.aneaxially extending-air p'a'ssagen randisaidizinner shell havingatitsllow'er endi a inap. movable .nnurelative rotation-.of -lthezshellsseleetivelyfclosing and 'exposingfthe'passage'. f

WAET.ERI L"GEUIELDER.K

REFERENCES CITED :The --fol1owi-ngref erences are' ofi record in :thefile ofthis patenttg f -v Y UNITED Nlnnberv

